1 Purwannah’s
2 messages and
3 threats disre~
4 garded,
5 310 HISTORY OF THE SiKHS.
6 by the Goorkhas, when in possession of Sunsar
7 Chund, who defended it against them for four years,
8 and then delivered it up to Runjeet Singh. Runjoor
9 Singh, who was on escort duty with Captain
10 Cunningham, sent for the purpose of taking pos-
11 session of the fort, sent his purwannah to the
12 commandant to deliver it up, but without success.
13 A moonshee was then dispatched to receive a
14 written answer from the killadar; but the latter
15 replied that his only answer would be “ shot and
16 powder,” or “gooleebarood.” A party of soldiers
17 was then sent to reconnoitre, when the guns were
18 opened on them, and they were obliged to retreat.
19 Fort occupied Lhe occupants of the fort were believed to amount
20 chiefly by
21 Ukalees.
22 Refuse to
23 deliver up
24 Kumlaguth
25 and Hurree-
26 pore.
27 The Ranee
28 unwilling that
29 Major Law-
30 rence should
31 leaye Lahore.
32 to about 500, chiefly Ukalees, and the guns were
33 said to be ten in number.
34 Not only did the Sikhs refuse to deliver up
35 Kote Kangra, but also the forts of Kumlagurh and
36 Hurreepore, and the circumstance was duly repre-
37 sented to the Sikh government, which dispatched
38 reiterated orders to comply with the wishes of the
39 sirkar, and threats were held out, that the friends
40 and families of the refractory killadars at Lahore
41 would be imprisoned. On Major Lawrence repre-
42 senting the necessity of his proceeding towards
43 Kangra, the Ranee expressed a wish that he would
44 remain at Lahore and allow the Sikh troops to take
45 possession of the fort. The political agent having
46 however other matters demanding his presence in
47 the hill territories, departed.